Ferrari at a Crossroads: Is Fred Vasseur's Time Up and Could Christian Horner Really Be Next?
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The rumor mill is spinning hard at Ferrari right now, and it's all centered on team principal Fred Vasseur. Christian Horner's recent interview with The Times during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend has kicked off fresh speculation about Vasseur's long-term future at Maranello. The pressure on Vasseur has been mounting for a while, especially from the Italian media, as Ferrari grapples with a season that's increasingly being seen as a missed opportunity despite genuine improvement from their disastrous 2025 form.
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The core problem is Ferrari's power unit. The SF-26 is hamstrung by an engine deficit that's proving impossible to fix, even with the two permitted upgrades already used this season. On the straights, the car can't touch Mercedes or Red Bull-Ford, and Ferrari's cornering advantage from before the summer break has eroded as McLaren keeps closing the gap. It's a technical nightmare that's putting serious heat on Vasseur's position.
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So who could replace him if Ferrari decides to make a change? According to reports, Ferrari chairman John Elkann has been exploring internal options. Antonello Coletta, who runs the World Endurance Championship program, has apparently been sounded out again, though he's reportedly said no before. There's also Jerome d'Ambrosio, the deputy team principal, who could step up. D'Ambrosio's a Vasseur guy, brought to Ferrari by Fred himself, so a transition there could be smoother and potentially happen during the 2027 season.
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Then there's the Horner factor, which has everyone buzzing. The idea of Christian Horner jumping to Ferrari sounds wild, but sources suggest there's serious resistance to him within Ferrari's ranks, making it unlikely to actually happen. What's really fueling the speculation is Horner being spotted in Naples, posting photos from his hotel balcony, with fans connecting dots between him and Ferrari chairman Elkann, who has ties to the Luna Rossa sailing team through Stellantis. Is he actually meeting with Elkann, or is it just a crazy coincidence? Right now, it's all rumor and social media detective work.
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